Adjustable window conservatory



y 2, 1939- J STElNMETZ 2,156,746

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW CONSERVATORY Filed April 9, 1938 2 Shets-Sheet 1 fir FT 7 INVENTOR. hluzs ,jieuuneizj WWW/- ATTORNEYS May 2, 1939. J. STEINMETZ ADJUSTABLE WINDOW CONSERVATORY Filed April 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR. Julius Sieuz/neZz ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE WINDOW CONSERVATORY Julius Steinmetz, Winthrop, Mass., assignor of one-half to Max Hofiman, Dorchester, Mass.

Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,134

4-. Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable and collapsible structures for window or like openings and particularly to a window conservatory for the sprouting or growing of flower or vegetable .5 seeds, although it may be utilized for more general purposes according to the climate and inclinations of the owner.

In devices of this sort it has long been desired to provide for simple inexpensive structures which would be architecturally harmonious with usual window exteriors or interiors.

Various window boxes, shelves and like accessories have been proposed, but except for ones built by expensive carpenters or cabinet makers to order, nothing was available. The needs of the more humble home florist or gardener remained unfilled. One of the requirements as I have analyzed this situation is adjustability so that different widths of window opening could be conveniently fitted. Another 'is that of collapsibilty, of ability to be knocked down to flat or nearly flat condition for shipment or storage.

structurally these requirements or desiderata are rather antagonistic or mechanically irreconcilable for a single, simple combination, which the ultimate article must present.

However. according to my concept I have combined the desired features with a minimum of complication and expense and for purposes of ii lustration show a form of the invention well adapted to average use and purse.

Throughout the specification and drawings like reference numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts, and in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view as from a room interior looking out into the conservatory through the open window.

Fig. 2 is a section through a window structure with a conservatory according to my invention in place.

Fig. 3 is an exterior perspective of the device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the roof member or unit removed.

Fig. 5 is a view of such a structure partially knocked down, and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the conservatory nested and packed in a box sectioned to show the nested pack.

My window conservatory consists of a bottom structure and a top structure. The bottom structure comprises a pair of interfitting members A and B slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to vary the length of the bottom structure so that it may be adapted to fit windows 55 of different widths.

Each bottom member A or B includes a bot- 1 W respectively of a window sill W. The members A and B are open at their inner sides, inner ends and tops. The end walls "I and 8 have vertical front and rear edges, the rear edges 1 or 8' being of the height of the outer side walls 3 and 4, while the front edges id or 801 are of greater height so that their upper edges incline upwardly and inwardly. These end walls I and 8 have outwardly directed flanges 9 extending from their inner edges and flanges 9 extending rearwardly from said outwardly directed flanges 9 to facilitate mounting of the bottom structure in a window frame.

The top structure H comprises a pair of interfitting panels M and I slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to collec-. tively correspond in length to the length of the bottom structure, and a weather excluding upwardly directed flange i0 along the inner side i l or l5 of each panel 14 or l5 to extend upwardly across the inner face S of the bottom cross members S of a window sash S when the conservatory is operatively positioned in a window frame and the sash S is lowered.

These panels 14 and I5 are preferably of wire reinforced Cellophane or like non-vitreous material having a minimum shut-off for ultra-violet and other solar wave lengths beneficial to plant growth. They may be held stretched tight at their end edges I'B and I T and are snugly overlapped on the longitudinal edges l8 while simply sliding with a close overlap at their central edges.

When it is desired to knock down and pack the members of the conservatory, the roof unit is lifted off, the assembly screws are taken out and the end members reversed in the pan which is telescoped, to the shortest overall dimensional positions of its sliding parts. The roof unit then goes on as a flat cover so that the whole conservatory when knocked down may be packed in a flat rectangular box or carton B for parcel post or like shipment as indicated in Fig. 6.

Seeds of flowers or vegetables may be started in such conservatories and brought on to condition for transplating outdoors when the ground is ready. Conveniently little paper sprouting boxes may be used so that the garden can be set out without transplating. However, pots or any other containers or vessels may be set into such conservatories, merely allowing for head room and growth.

These conservatories being open to room temperature as well as to the heat from the sun build up and hold excellent growing conditions. The plants are conveniently watered and tended through the open window and if desired the conservatory may be vented or aired as by ports l9. For inexpensive assembly of the sheet metal parts I may use any inexpensive fastenings such as screws or stove bolts.

When attractively painted the conservatory is ornamental both externally and internally of the window.

Various modifications in proportion and design as well as in mechanical detail can and will be apparent to those skilled in the art for different types of windows and also more expensive and elaborate models.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a window conservatory to extend transversely of a window and to rest upon the sill thereof, a bottom structure comprising a pair of interfitting members slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to vary the length of said bottom structure, thus to adapt same to fit window frames of difierent widths, said members being open at their inner sides, tops and inner ends and each member including a bottom wall, an outer side wall and an outer end wall, a top structure covering said bottom structure, said top structure comprising a pair of interfitting paned panels slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to collectively correspond in length to the length of said bottom structure, and a weather excluding upwardly directed flange along the inner side of each panel to extend upwardly across the inner face of the bottom cross member of a window sash when the conservatory is operatively positioned in a window frame and the sash is lowered.

2. In a window conservatory to extend transversely of a window and to rest upon the sill thereof, a bottom structure comprising a pair of interfitting members slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to vary the length of said bottom structure, thus to adapt same to fit window frames of different widths, said members being open at their inner sides, tops and inner ends and each member including a bottom wall, an outer side wall, an outer end wall, and a rear wall of small height stepped to engage outer and top faces of the window sill, a top structure covering said bottom structure, said top structure comprising a pair of interfitting paned panels slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to collectively correspond in length to the length of said bottom structure, and a weather excluding upwardly directed flange along the inner side of each panel to extend upwardly across the inner face of the bottom cross member of a window sash when the conservatory is operatively positioned in a window frame and the sash is lowered.

3. In a window conservatory to extend transversely of a window and to rest upon the sill thereof, a bottom structure comprising a pair of interfitting members slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to vary the length of said bottom structure, thus to adapt same to fit window frames of different widths, said members being open at their inner sides, tops and inner ends and each member including a bottom wall, an outer side wall and a detachable outer end wall, a top structure covering said bottom structure, said top structure comprising a pair of interfitting paned panels slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to collectively correspond in length to the length of said bot tom structure, and a weather excluding upwardly directed flange along the inner side of each panel to extend upwardly across the inner face of the bottom cross member of a window sash when the conservatory is operatively positioned in a window frame and the sash is lowered, the end walls of the bottom structure having their upper edges inclined upwardly and inwardly so that the top structure is similarly inclined when it is applied to said bottom structure and so that said end walls may be compactly placed within the bottom structure for storage or shipment of the conservatory.

4. In a window conservatory to extend transversely of a window and to rest upon the sill thereof, a bottom structure comprising a pair of interfitting members slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to vary the length of said bottom structure, thus to adapt same to fit window frames of different widths, said members being open at their inner sides, tops and inner ends and each member including a bottom wall, an outer side wall and an outer end wall, an outwardly directed flange at the inner edge of each end wall and a flange extending rearwardly from each outwardly directed flange to facilitate mounting of the bottom structure in a window frame, a top structure covering said bottom structure, said top structure comprising a pair of in terfitting paned panels slidably adjustable longitudinally relative to each other to collectively cor respond in length to the length of said bottom structure, and a weather excluding upwardly directed flange along the inner side of each panel to extend upwardly across the inner face of the bottom cross member of a window sash when the conservatory is operatively positioned in a Win dow frame and the sash is lowered.

JULIUS STEINMETZ. 

